|
Sometimes we never outlive our nicknames, and maybe we should. I recently returned to the Washington DC area where I grew up, and lived for my first 25 years. I'm now 68 years old, scarcely a kid any longer. Some of my childhood mates have passed away, but quite a few are still living, and some in the same general area. I met one while there, "Stinky." I didn't know how to greet him after all these years and blushed at the prospect of calling him Stinky. He's quite the dignified looking gentleman today, not at all like the Stinky I knew. After a couple of beers I asked him if anyone called him Stinky today. He said that if anyone from his childhood called him that it was okay, but he would prefer that no one from his adulthood called him that or even knew of that nickname. I guess some things we can't live down. I finally said goodbye and told old Earl I hoped to see him again soon. 68 years old, and I had never called him Earl before. Best wishes.
Cal - Montreal
|